Time will tell for 49ers

Darrell Moody

One would be hard pressed to find a team decimated more by salary cap/free agency problems in the off-season than the San Francisco 49ers.

The cap-strapped team lost seven starting offensive players in the off-season. Quarterback Jeff Garcia, running back Garrison Hearst, tackle Derrick Deese, guard Ron Stone, wide receivers Terrell Owens and Tai Streets, and tight end Jed Weaver.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you know that the 49ers waived Garcia, Hearst, Deese, Stone, Streets and Weaver for money reasons. Garcia signed a four-year deal for $25 million with the Cleveland Browns. Streets bolted to the Lions and Stone signed with the Raiders, who desperately need help on the offensive line.

The reason for Hearst's departure was because of the superb play of Kevan Barlow, and the simple fact is the team couldn't afford to have two high-priced guys playing the same position

Owens, a disruptive force for the past few years was given permission to seek a trade on his own. Owens wanted to go to Philly, but the team dealt him to the Baltimore Ravens before Owens and his agent could work out a deal with the Eagles. Owens filed a complain with the union, and it was ruled that he would go to Philly in exchange for defensive end Brandon Whiting. The Ravens, obviously miffed, received a fifth-round draft pick from the 49ers.

"It's going to take a little time," head coach Dennis Erickson admitted Friday where he was attending the 49er Foundation Celebrity Ski Classic at The Resort at Squaw Creek. "We were hurt particularly on offense. Defensively we're in pretty good shape other than the fact we lost Jason Webster (signed with Atlanta).

"I still think we can be very competitive depending on how we fill in (the holes) with draft picks and what happens with June free agency.There are a lot of things we'd like to look at if we had the money."

According to recent reports, the team is only $3 million under the salary cap, and Erickson said that figure might be even lower. That doesn't leave the 49ers much room to sign a good free agent that might be available during the summer.

First off, I think the loss of Owens will be positive in the long run. It leaves the 49ers young at wide receiver with youngsters Cedric Wilson and Brandon Lloyd as starters. However, Owens was a drain on the team chemistry, and the team won't miss his weekly temper tantrums. Heck, I seem to remember Owens dropping a lot of passes last year. Anybody remember the same thing?

Are college receivers able to come in and contribute heavily immediately?

"Some can and some can't," Erickson said. "When I was in Seattle, we drafted Joey Galloway, and he had a great rookie season. Look at what Anquan Bouldin did this year at Phoenix (101 catches, 1.377 yards). Whoever we take has to play. That's where we're at."

Erickson said the team is committed to Lloyd and Wilson, and that drafting 16th, he believes the team will be able to come up with a good receiver if that's the direction it decides to go.

"There's the kid at LSU and Reggie Williams from Washington," Erickson said.

Though I liked Garcia, it was probably time for him to move on. He took a lot of abuse from Owens last year, and had some inconsistent games. He didn't help himself with his off-season DUI after a Sharks game. Tim Rattay won two of his three starts in Garcia's absence, and I'm sure he showed enough to make Garcia expendable.

Garcia's cap number was more than the 49ers wanted to pay, and the quarterback refused to take enough of a pay cut to the team's satisfaction. Erickson believed the team offered Garcia $5 million a year.

"I have great respect for what Jeff accomplished," said Ted Tollner, who worked with quarterbacks last year and is now the team's offensive coordinator. "Because of his talents, he was able to become a Pro Bowl player.

"Tim can't do a lot of things that Jeff could do. Tim is more accurate, and he likes to throw deep, and we have to take advantage of that."

Just like at wide receiver, the team is young at quarterback. Ex-Miami star Ken Dorsey is No. 2 and ex-BYU star Brandon Dorman is No. 3. Erickson said the team isn't looking for a veteran at the No. 2 spot.

"It's risky. They are very unproven," admitted Tollner. "Dorsey has a lot of intangibles that can't be measured. He has excellent vision and sees the field well. He has real good quarterback instincts. When I evaluated him, every time there was a critical point, he made a play in that game."

Erickson said it will be up to him to get Dorsey plenty of preseason snaps, and don't be surprised if Dorsey starts some preseason games just so he can play against front-line defenses.

The offensive line is a huge concern for Erickson, especially since Rattay doesn't have Garcia's ability to avoid the rush.

Kyle Kosier, a reserve last year, steps in for Stone. Kwame Harris, who played a little last year, starts for Deese at tackle.

"No doubt it's a question mark," Erickson said. "The three other starters played quite a lot last year."

And like good football people know, it takes time for an offensive line to get in sync. No doubt the 49ers hope the group comes together quickly, and that they get the back-up help they need through the draft or via free agency.

Only time will tell.

Darrell Moody is a Nevada Appeal Staff Writer. Contact him at 881-1281.